Caracterização geoambiental do município de Codó-MA, Brasil

Abstract

The disordered urban expansion in medium-sized Brazilian cities has generated severe socio-environmental imbalances, frequently ignoring the aptitudes and restrictions of the physical substrate. This article aims to analyze the influence of the geological and geomorphological characteristics of the urban site on environmental quality and public health in the municipality of Codó-MA. Based on the concepts of Urban Site and Environmental Fragility, and engaging with Medical Geology and Health Geography, the study investigates how the degradation of the physical environment acts as a determinant of vulnerability. The geoenvironmental characterization revealed a predominance of Plinthosols and Argisols in the territory—soil classes that, due to the presence of impermeable horizons and restricted vertical drainage, favor surface water retention and the formation of unhealthy environments. The results demonstrate that the occupation of these areas, without proper planning or sanitation, transforms natural constraints into risk factors, creating ecological niches conducive to the proliferation of diseases. It is concluded that negligence regarding the dynamics of the physical environment not only degrades the environment but also directly compromises the health of the population, making the integration of pedological and geomorphological knowledge into territorial planning policies imperative.